HOST INTRO: Today was another chance for the White House to clarify why the president fired FBI Director James Comey earlier this week. Trump has blamed Comey’s mishandling of the Clinton email investigation. But he contradicted himself last night in an interview with Lester Holt.

Donald Trump: When I decided to just do it, I said to myself: this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story. It’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election.

Now, the New York Times is reporting that shortly after inauguration, the president asked Director Comey point blank if Comey would be loyal. Comey answered by saying that he’d be honest. Glenn Carle is a national security expert who worked at the CIA for over 20 years. I asked him what it means for the president to ask for loyalty from the head of the FBI.